sale from his home including some beach Behind the creations scenes. His “day job” requires him to travel throughout Virginia, North Carolina and Profiles on local artists making an impact in Southern Virginia South Carolina each week providing an op- portunity for Ramsey to witness the cultural landscape of large cities and small towns. PHIL RAMSEY “In my estimation, South Boston per South Boston artist Phil capita possesses the most talent and bent Ramsey has been delving into for artistic expression than any other loca- the art world since the age of tion that I have experienced. 3 when his mother gave him a “Our arts center, The Prizery for ex- box of crayons. ample, is second to none with its perform- “I have always been drawn to- ing arts presentations. We have top-rated ward anything visually pleasing restaurants and an outstanding art gallery. to the eye, so anything in my The list could go on. I am very proud to be environment growing up added a part of this community,” he said. to my inspiration,” he said. Ramsey said this factor is extremely Ramsey recalled his favorite important in attracting professional people time of the day in grade school, him and more recently southwest artist into the area. besides playing kickball, was getting a large Timothy Horn, who takes simple subjects Numerous cities are discovering that art piece of construction paper with pencils and rivets the heart with his paintings. plays just as much of a part of infrastructure and crayons. “Horn inspired me to paint a recent oil as anything else for building a cultural and “I was a short scrawny kid with horn- painting that I did of Dairy Dell in South vibrant place to live. rimmed Coke-bottle glasses, and the only Boston, and it was amazing the emotions “I think South Boston, Halifax and the notoriety I received was drawing during stirred over such a down-home but endear- county is moving in the right direction with that time - the kids would all gather around ing wonderful subject.” serious attention and dedication to cultural my desk to see what I would draw next.” Ramsey will, with a typical portrait, have attraction,” he concluded. Ramsey said he loved the attention and painted the face six to nine times over and the escape from being called a four-eyed over again before finishing. WYATT shrimp for 30 minutes. “My reflection, however, is that this RAMSEY His parents gave him his first oil painting capability to make blunders that are forgiv- set at age 13. Without any instruction, it able with oil paint reflects my life. I need Richmond was a total disaster, and he eventually gave forgiveness — and a whole lot of it. The artist and up on art. canvas of my life needs constant correcting former South Later as an adult, it was when he and his and sometimes serious do overs. God gives Boston resident wife, Shelley, decided to put away the TV me those chances and sometimes other Wyatt Ramsey for an entire year that he rekindled that people do. I am a living oil painting with has been paint- love for art and started painting again. layers and layers of horrible under paintings ing most of his His best friend became the public library. that desperately need numerous ‘redos,”’ life. That’s when the real spark came. He he said. “When I was studied the paintings and teaching of David Ramsey’s favorite painting always is the 2 years old my Leffel, one of the greatest oil painters still next one. dad painted a mural of a jungle that ex- living, and then he studied the murals of He considers none of his particular works panded around my entire room. I immedi- the great Renaissance. of art “a favorite.” ately painted over it,” Ramsey quipped. Ramsey started teaching private art les- Each had its own time, genre and purpose Maybe he is fueled by a Freudian sense sons and began a multi-year journey paint- for the moment. However, he does have of competition, but the younger Ramsey ing numerous murals. several oil paintings surrounding the genre firmly plans to one day buy his artistic dad, Later he took a workshop under John de of music available for sale from his home. Phil Ramsey, out of business. la Vega of Argentina, a nationally renowned His Dairy Dell painting also is now Ramsey grew up with art watching his portrait artist who mentored him in per- available for sale, and he’s currently taking dad paint, and he mimicked him. fecting his craft. orders for prints. “That’s how I learned the important Since then Ramsey has studied portrait Ramsey has paintings for sale at Destina- things in life, imitation. One of my favorite painting from John Howard Sanden, tion Art Gallery in South Boston, Milton authors, Donald Miller, says in a book Daniel Greene and Brian Neher, both with Art Gallery in Milton, N.C., The Little Art ‘Sometime you have to watch somebody videos and personal instruction. Gallery in Moneta and Lantanas Art Gallery love something before you can love it The impressionists continue to inspire in Southport, N.C. as well as paintings for yourself. It is as if they are showing you the

12 SOUTHERN VIRGINIA PERSPECTIVE APRIL-JUNE 2014